The Queen of Elysium

Chapter 39 - Dance of the Dryads

Aren awakes with a start and his mouth gapes open as the leaves forming their door shrivel up, lose all their colour and turn black. The light of the near full moon shines through the gap and sends twisted shadows onto the walls.

Frost creeps along the branches arching above his head and fans out until the ceiling is a ghostly, glittering white. He shivers and his breath comes out as a cloud.

Dread chills him further at the sound of a familiar voice. Poor boy. How are you ever going to quench all that fiery passion? How long before she regrets her choice and seeks the arms of a man who can satisfy her?

We can please our female, the tiger snarls and his top lip curls in response. "I am a man who can satisfy her."

Believe what you will. The black apparition glides into view and somehow manages to give the effect of shrugging its shoulders, even though there is nothing corporeal under the black cloth. Take heed, for Kai will come flying and will sweep her off her feet.

The eagle hisses, spectral talons ready to tear into it. "Your taunts are getting old. But then, what should I expect from nothing more than dust?"

Brave words, little boy. Just how well do you know your beloved? Kai is not the only one you have to worry about. She is just toying with you both until she is ready.

He hates to, but he rises to the bait. "Ready for what?"

For a union with my brother.

"Your Brother?" This thing has family?

Yes, Morpheus. He has chosen her as his queen, though he bides his time until his rose is ripe for picking. So, enjoy your night together, for you will not have many more.

......

Aren awakes with a gasp; his forehead slick with cold sweat. It is early morning and Elissa is still asleep beside him. She looks so innocent, but the words from his nightmare sour in his mind, causing doubt to fester away. Am I man enough? Is she true?

Perhaps the weight of his stare rouses her, for her eyelids flutter open and she smiles sleepily up at him.

He wants to bend down and kiss her good morning, but his mouth has a mind of its own and instead demands, "Is it true about Morpheus?"

The smile melts away and she goes a deathly pale. "What do you mean?"

Her caginess does not bode well. "Are you promised to him?"

"Well ..."

Disappointment slithers through him and lands in a sickening pool in his stomach. "I was hoping for a no."

"Who told you about Morpheus?"

"Well, not you," he spits out as ire simmers within.

"I'm sorry. He tricked me into a bond, but that does not make me his."

Her eyes implore him, but something ugly twists inside and blurs his vision. "How many other secrets are you keeping from me? How many other men do I have to worry about?"

"Aren, please. It is my past. I want my future to be with you. I love you."

Tears stream down her face and the sight cuts through some of the haze of his anger. The eagle is distraught. My female is distressed. We did this.

Does she speak truth or lies?

He cannot trust his own mouth not to say something stupid or hurtful, so lets the anger transform him. Teeth and claws and thick fur come to the fore.